Montco man admits to not being properly licensed before crash that killed turnpike worker in Plymouth

COURTHOUSE — A West Conshohocken man has admitted to driving with a suspended license when he crashed his truck into a Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission vehicle, killing a worker who was outside of it.

Benjamin Joseph Kane, 35, of the 400 block of Ford Street, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court Friday to a felony charge of accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed in connection with the crash in Plymouth at 8:27 a.m. on Oct. 22, 2012, that claimed the life of 66-year-old turnpike worker Michael SanFelice of West Norriton.

The open plea means there are no deals between prosecutors and Kane. Judge Steven T. O’Neill deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Kane, who remains free on bail pending sentencing.

Kane, who is represented by defense lawyer Steven Fairlie, faces a possible maximum sentence of 3˝ to seven years in prison on the charge.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jesse King.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Kane was operating a double-axle truck for his private business, Great Valley Moving and Storage, when his vehicle veered onto the shoulder of eastbound Interstate 276 in Plymouth. Kane’s truck struck the rear of a bright orange turnpike maintenance vehicle with flashing hazard lights, which was then pushed into SanFelice, who was working outside the vehicle, court papers indicate.

SanFelice, who was wearing a green reflective safety vest and was removing road debris on the berm of the turnpike at the time of the crash, was pinned against a guardrail. The impact propelled SanFelice’s safety helmet 16 feet over the guardrail, according to the arrest affidavit filed by state police. SanFelice died from multiple injuries, authorities said.

Another maintenance worker who was inside the turnpike vehicle suffered a concussion and cuts to his leg during the crash. A passenger in Kane’s truck was also injured in the crash and his leg was amputated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, according to court documents.

According to the arrest affidavit, PennDOT records indicated Kane’s operating privileges were suspended at the time of the crash, the suspension stemming from an August 2012 traffic citation for speeding in West Pikeland, Chester County. Kane entered a guilty plea on Oct. 16, 2012, and submitted partial payment, but did not satisfy the citation. The suspension remained active at the time of the fatal crash, court papers alleged.

Kane’s driving privileges were restored several days after the crash when the remaining balance was paid on the citation, court documents indicate.

Toxicology tests came up negative for drugs or alcohol in Kane’s system at the time of the crash, and a post-crash inspection found there were no mechanical problems or conditions that could have contributed to it, court documents indicate.

When authorities searched the contents of a cell phone belonging to Kane, they found multiple text and instant messages leading up to a time just several minutes before the crash, according to the criminal complaint.